Sarracenia plant named &#39;Meerkat Mob&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Sarracenia  plant named ‘Meerkat Mob’ that is characterized by long tubular shaped leaves with a vertical hood extending above the leaf opening, green leaves with red veins and a green peristome that is mottled dark pink on older leaves and a hood with sides that extend 15 to 20 mm. on each side of the leaf opening and lobes that extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below the leaf opening.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Sarracenia hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘MEERKAT MOB’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSarracenia plant botanically known as Sarracenia hybrid and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Meerkat Mob’.

The new Sarracenia plant is the product of a breeding program conductedby the inventor in Vista, Calif. The objective of the breeding programis to create new ornamental carnivorous pitcher plants with largeleaves, high leaf counts and distinctive leaf colors

‘Meerkat Mob’ originated from the crossing of a large number ofunidentified proprietary selections of Sarracenia hybrid (not patented)in 2009. The exact parent plants are unknown. The resulting seeds weresubsequently harvested and grown. ‘Meerkat Mob’ was selected as a singleplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Vista, Calif. in 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Meerkat Mob’ first occurred bytissue culture in 2011 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Since that time, undercareful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newSarracenia cultivar ‘Meerkat Mob’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Meerkat Mob’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart fromother existing known varieties of Sarracenia.

1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits long tubular shaped leaves with avertical hood extending above the leaf opening.2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits green leaves with red veins and agreen peristome that is mottled dark pink on older leaves.3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a hood with sides that extend 15 to20 mm. on each side of the leaf opening and lobes that extend downward 5to 10 mm. below the leaf opening.

‘Meerkat Mob’ can be compared to plants of an unidentified selection ofSarracenia purpurea. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by theinventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Sarracenia differed fromplants of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits longer leaves than the leaves ofthe unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea.2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits an inside hood surface that iscovered with very small hyaline hairs. The unidentified selection ofSarracenia purpurea has an inside hood surface that is covered withprominent downward pointing hairs.3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaf hood margins that are smoothand not wavy. The leaf hood margins of Sarracenia purpurea haveundulations on each side of the hood.4. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a hood with sides that extend oneach side of the leaf opening. The sides have lobes that extend downward5 to 10 mm. below the leaf opening.The unidentified selection of Sarracenia purpurea has longer lobes thatextend downward 15 to 20 mm. below the leaf opening.

‘Meerkat Mob’ can be compared to plants of an unidentified selection ofSarracenia leucophylla. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by theinventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Sarracenia differed fromplants of the unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a vertical leaf hood. The leaf hoodof the unidentified selection of Sarracenia leucophylla curves over theleaf opening.2. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaves that radiate from therhizome tip in a symmetrical spiral. The leaves of the unidentifiedselection of Sarracenia leucophylla radiate from the rhizome tip andside branches in a non-uniform pattern.3. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits a green leaf hood. The unidentifiedselection of Sarracenia leucophylla has white translucent chlorophyllfree areas on the hood and the top of the leaf.4. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits leaf hood margins that are smoothand not wavy. The leaf hood margins of Sarracenia leucophylla are verywavy and undulating.5. Sarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’ exhibits hollow tube shaped leaves throughthe growing season. The leaves of the unidentified selection ofSarracenia leucophylla are flat in the spring developing into hollowtube shaped leaves in the summer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofSarracenia ‘Meerkat Mob’. The plant in the photograph shows an overallview of a 24 month old plant. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Sarracenia cultivarnamed ‘Meerkat Mob’. Data was collected in Vista, Calif. from 24 monthold plants grown in a polyethylene greenhouse in 10 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was autumn and the temperature range was26-40 degrees Centigrade during the day and 18-22 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was 3000 foot candles. No photoperiodictreatments were used. Color determinations are in accordance with TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Meerkat Mob’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Sarracenia hybrid ‘Meerkat Mob’.-   Parentage: ‘Meerkat Mob’ originated from a cross of two unidentified    proprietary selections of Sarracenia hybrid.-   Propagation: Tissue culture.    -   -   Time to initiate roots on a tissue-culture plantlet.—About            30 days at 20 degrees Centigrade.        -   Time to produce a rooted tissue-cultured plantlet.—About 150            days at 20 degrees Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 18 months.        -   Temperature tolerance.—0 to 40 degrees Centigrade.        -   Annual or perennial: Perennial.        -   Root description.—Central root with sparse side roots 1 mm.            in diameter, white in color, maturing to red brown.        -   Plant shape.—Upright carnivorous perennial plant with erect            tubular leaves.        -   Plant growth habit: Compact; upright with strong leaves;            leaves arise in a spiral from a rhizome tip; vigorous            growth.        -   Containers.—10 cm. containers.        -   Plant height.—Soil level to top of leaves 24 to 27 cm.        -   Plant width.—16 to 18 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Tubular to trumpet-shaped, smaller diameter at            base and larger diameter at apex with peristome at opening;            mostly erect to slightly leaning; keel on one side of leaf;            large terminal hood; sessile.        -   Hood shape.—hemispherical with wings on each side of opening            and lobes that extend downwardly form each wing; apex            rounded; margin entire.        -   Number of leaves per plant.—6 to 8.        -   Leaf length.—24 to 27 cm.        -   Leaf diameter.—4.1 cm. at apex and 8 mm. at base.        -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Keel length.—18.5 cm.        -   Keel width.—1.7 cm.        -   Hood dimensions.—5.3 cm. in length and 7.7 cm. in width;            sides of hood extend 15 to 20 mm. on each side of leaf            opening; lobes extend downward 5 to 10 mm. below leaf            opening.        -   Hood texture.—Outer surface glabrous; inner surface has fine            hyaline hairs less than 0.5 mm. in length.        -   Peristome dimensions.—2.5 mm. in width at hood, 6 mm. in            width at front.        -   Peristome texture.—Glabrous.        -   Peristome color.—144A; mature peristome mottled with 185B.        -   Young leaf color outer surface: 144B; hood color 144B.        -   Young leaf color inner surface: 144B; hood color 144B.        -   Mature leaf color outer surface: 144A; veins 185B; hood 144A            with veins 185B.        -   Mature leaf color inner surface: 144A, upper 3 cm. mottled            185B; veins 185B, hood 144A with veins 185B.-   Flower: ‘Meerkat Mob’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘Meerkat Mob’ has not produced fruit or seed to    date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Sarracenia exhibit    good resistance to fungal diseases. Mature plants are susceptible to    mealy bugs on the rhizome. Young leaves susceptible to aphids.    Mature leaves not susceptible to aphids.

1. A new and distinct variety of Sarracenia plant named ‘Meerkat Mob’ asdescribed and illustrated.